CoMotion 2022
Client: SCAD CoMotion Role: Lead Animator Year: 2022
CoMotion is SCAD’s annual student-run motion design conference. The 2022 edition was again virtual, streamed live on YouTube.
As Lead Animator, I animated the logo and led 8 animators on the title sequence and student showcase title cards. I built text presets and animation rigs so less technical teammates could move fast, set file naming conventions, tracked versions and approvals in Frame.io, and kept notes, tasks and specs organized in Notion.
Creative Treatment
The sequence embraces a 2.5D design language, 2D elements moving through 3D space, to reflect a field that keeps experimenting and pushing its boundaries.
Title Sequence
Logo Animation
The logo’s isometric blocks aren’t physically accurate; they rely on optical illusions like the see-through O counter. I animated them in Cinema 4D with a flat primary color on each face, then used Set Matte and individual RGB channels in After Effects to map a texture onto each face.
Each block was rendered separately so I could cycle through textures, and I kept them simple so the motion stays readable.
Shape Tunnel
The tunnel looks like it travels through z-space, but it’s an illusion: panels and shapes scale up from zero to fill the frame. The shapes mix Cinema 4D renders and Element 3D objects; every sprite is shown below.
Gradient Blocks
With limited time and a team of mixed technical skill, I built a rig that models 3D blocks from 2D shape layers using expressions, packaged in Essential Graphics. Teammates could focus on animating transforms and colors without building the blocks, and I could stay on my own shot.
Title Cards
Production Pipeline
Before assigning any animation, I broke the styleframes down by texture type and gave each animator a specific set of textures, instead of a vague “animate the textures.” Those became toolkits and renders for title cards, social and the livestream.
For the title sequence, the 3D team blocked out cameras while the 2D team ran motion tests. After weeks of refinement, we assembled the rough cut with type credits and transitions.
Knowledge Management
With the team on Slack and Zoom, I set up Notion as our hub for links, meeting notes, deliverable specs, animation guidelines and how-tos, plus agendas and schedules. A strict file naming convention kept the cloud drive navigable and made it clear who made what.
Animation Direction
I managed 22 student showcase title cards across six animators in Frame.io, tracking versions and approvals with timestamped, annotated feedback that was far more precise than notes over Zoom. The most common notes: match the styleframes, slow down distracting elements, and add secondary motion.
Animation Toolkit
Text Animation
For consistent type, I pitched a few motion sketches, built the chosen one into a rig with expressions and controls, and packaged it as a preset with a demo so the team could troubleshoot on their own. The Graphic Design team also used the presets for social countdowns.
Social Media
Process Workshop
Credits
Direction
Production
Design & Animation
Post & Sound
Extended Team
